Palestinian activist Wa’el Al-Faqeeh faced his third hearing in Salim military court on 11 March. His detention period was extended until 24 April when the next hearing will take place. Al-Faqeeh remains imprisoned without charge since his arrest from his Nablus home on 9 December 2009. It is expected that Al-Faqeeh will be charged with aiding an illegal organization, a common pretext employed by the Israeli military to imprison politically active Palestinians, and faces a minimum of 12 months behind bars.
Al-Faqeeh, imprisoned for over three months now, sent a message to his loved ones from Jelemeh prison as he began the new year imprisoned by Israel’s occupation forces: “I am the captive Wael Al-Faqeeh, wishing the free world a Happy New Year full of peace, security and love. I hope for a year of enlightment in all human relations, and a renewed call for peace agreements, supported by the free people of the world. It is my hope that we can design and build a society free from all forms of discrimination and persecution.”
Al-Faqeeh’s wife Myassar has been denied permission to visit her husband in Megiddo prison where he has been held for the last 2 months. She has been afforded only two brief glimpses of Al-Faqeeh since the arrest, at hearings at Salim military court which have lasted an average of 3 minutes. Permission was granted to his two eldest daughters however, who will make the journey to Megiddo in northern Israel next week.
Reports that Al-Faqeeh’s health has deteriorated whilst in prison have fueled his family and friends’ concern for the human rights activist. Family members and fellow solidarity activists have lodged requests to the Red Cross and Physicians For Human Rights to visit Al-Faqeeh and ensure that his health is sufficiently attended to.
Al-Faqeeh, 45 years old, was kidnapped in a night raid on his family’s home in Nablus on 9 December 2009, when a force of over 200 Israeli soldiers entered the city in an operation to arrest prominent grassroots activists in the region. Al-Faqeeh is known throughout the community for his tireless support of the Palestinian non-violent struggle and organization of countless community-outreach projects, demonstrations and cultural/educational programs for Nablus’ youth. The arrests signaled an escalation in Israel’s attempts to crack down on the resurgence of Palestine’s popular resistance against the illegal occupation, evidenced by the subsequent arrests of community leaders Abdullah Abu-Rahmah and Mohammad Khatib of Bil’in, Ibrahim Amirah and Hassan Mousa of Ni’lin and Jamal Juma’, head of the Stop The Wall campaign, from Jerusalem.
Take action against Israel’s detention of Wa’el Al-Faqeeh and all political prisoners here.
Demonstrators remember Tristan in Nil'inOn Friday, March 13th, the one year anniversary of the critical injury of international activist Tristan Anderson, approximately 100 Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals gathered for the weekly demonstration in Ni’lin to claim justice for Tristan. Anderson, a 38 year old U.S. citizen who was volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement, was hit in the forehead by a high-flying tear gas projectile during a demonstration in Ni’lin last year. The projectile was fired against IOF regulations, as soldiers shot the canisters directly at demonstrators rather than in an arcing fashion. According to the manufacturer of the tear gas canisters, the projectile was designed to penetrate walls and to be used in confined spaces; neither was necessary at the open-air demonstration demonstration in 2009. Tristan sustained serious brain damage, and remains hospitalized in Tel Aviv, his condition too serious for him to be moved home to the US.
In Ni’lin, midday prayers took place in the shade of olive trees, creating a picturesque setting. Afterwards, demonstrators marched firmly through the fields towards the metal gate in the concrete Apartheid Wall, while chanting and holding banners supporting Tristan. Three farmers brought their donkeys along in hopes of reach their farming land beyond the Apartheid Wall.
Protest against the apartheid wall, Nilin, Palestine,12/03/2010Ni’lin has lost about a third of its land to illegal Israeli settlements and the Wall. Only a limited amount of villagers have permission to access their lands behind the Wall, most of them elderly persons who do not have the physical capacity to farm. On Friday, all farmers were denied access to their land. While the crowd was overtaken by a viciously strong tear gas attack, soldiers passed through the gate. One of the farmers was brutally separated from his young son and arrested. Simultaneously, an Israeli activist was arrested while taking pictures.
After approximately 15 minutes the army invaded the village to surround the demonstrating crowd, plaguing the crowd with tear gas and sound grenades. The demonstrators approached the Wall again, holding up banners and chanting, which was answered by the army with more ammunition aimed directly at them. Clashes between the IOF and demonstrators continued for two hours until the army withdrew from the village.
Background on Nil’in:
Israel began construction of the Wall on Ni’lin’s land in 2004, but stopped after an injunction order issued by the Israeli Supreme Court (ISC). Despite the previous order and a 2004 ruling from the International Court of Justice declaring the Wall illegal, construction of the Wall began again in May 2008. Following the return of Israeli bulldozers to their lands, residents of Ni’lin have launched a grassroots campaign to protest the massive land theft, including demonstrations and direct actions.
The original route of the Wall, which Israel began constructing in 2004, was ruled illegal by the ISC, as was a second, marginally less obtrusive proposed route (http://www.poica.org/editor/case_studies/view.php?recordID=622). The most recent path, now completed, still cuts deep into Ni’lin’s land. The Wall has been built to include plans, not yet approved by the Army’s planning authority, for a cemetery and an industrial zone for the illegal settlement Modi’in Ilit.
Since the Wall was built to annex more land to the nearby settlements rather than in a militarily strategic manner, demonstrators have been able to repeatedly dismantle parts of the electronic fence and razor-wire surrounding it. Consequently, the army has erected a 15-25 feet tall concrete wall, in addition to the electronic fence. The section of the Wall in Ni’lin is the only part of the route where a concrete wall has been erected in response to civilian, unarmed protest.
As a result of the Wall construction, Ni’lin has lost 3,920 dunams, roughly 30% of its remaining lands. Originally, Ni’lin consisted of 15,898 dunams (3928 acres). Post 1948, Ni’lin was left with 14,794 dunams (3656 acres). After the occupation of the West Bank in 1967, the illegal settlements and infrastructure of Modi’in Ilit, Mattityahu and Hashmonaim were built on village lands, and Ni’lin lost another 1,973 dunams. With the completion of the Wall, Ni’lin has a remaining 8911 dunams (2201 acres), 56% of it’s original size (http://www.poica.org/editor/case_studies/view.php?recordID=1366).
Ni’lin is effectively split into 2 parts (upper and lower) by Road 446, which was built directly through the village. According to the publicized plan of the Israeli government (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/819633.html), a tunnel will be built under road 446 to connect the upper and lower parts of Ni’lin, allowing Israel to turn Road 446 into a segregated-setter only road. Subsequently, access for Palestinian vehicles to this road and to the main entrances of upper and lower Ni’lin will be closed. Additionally, since the tunnel will be the only entryway to Ni’lin, Israel will have control over the movement of Palestinian residents.
Israel commonly uses tear-gas projectiles, rubber coated steel bullets and live ammunition against demonstrators.
Since May, 2008, five of Ni’lin’s residents were killed and one American solidarity activist was critically injured from Israeli fire during grassroots demonstrations in Ni’lin.
* 5 June 2009: Yousef Akil Srour (36) was shot in the chest with 0.22 caliber live ammunition and pronounced dead upon arrival at a Ramallah hospital (https://palsolidarity.org/2009/06/7023).
* 13 March 2009: Tristan Anderson (37), an American citizen, was shot in the head with a high velocity tear gas projectile. He is currently at Tel Hashomer hospital near Tel Aviv with uncertain prospects for his recovery (https://palsolidarity.org/2009/03/5324).
* 28 December 2008: Mohammed Khawaje (20) was shot in the head with 5.56mm caliber live ammunition. He died in a Ramallah hospital 3 days later on 31 December 2008 (https://palsolidarity.org/2008/12/3742).
* 28 December 2008: Arafat Rateb Khawaje (22) was shot in the back with 5.56mm caliber live ammunition and pronounced dead upon arrival at a Ramallah hospital (https://palsolidarity.org/2008/12/3714).
* 30 July 2008: Yousef Amira (17) was shot in the head with two rubber coated steel bullets. He died in a Ramallah hospital 5 days later on 4 August 2008 (https://palsolidarity.org/2008/08/3346).
* 29 July 2008: Ahmed Mousa (10) was shot in the forehead with 5.56mm caliber live ammunition and pronounced dead upon arrival at a Ramallah hospital (https://palsolidarity.org/2008/07/3329).
Israeli armed forces have shot 40 demonstrators with live ammunition in Ni’lin. Of them, 11 were shot with 5.56mm caliber live ammunition and 29 were shot with 0.22 caliber live ammunition.
Since May 2008, 112 arrests of Ni’lin residents have been made in relation to anti-Wall protest in the village. The protesters arrested by the army constitute roughly 9% of the village’s male residents aged between 12 and 55. The arrests are part of a broad politically motivated Israeli campaign to suppress grassroots resistance to the Occupation.
Soldiers, armed to the teeth, meet non-violent protesters in Beit Jala.
Two months ago there was one weekly demonstration in the Bethlehem area, this weekend alone there were four. With Al-Ma’sara on Friday, Beit Ummar and Jubbet adh Dhib on Saturday and Beit Jala on Sunday, the third -unarmed- intifada is knocking on our door. The Israeli government knows this and is terrified. They can outgun an armed insurgence but their weapons will only erode global support when used against unarmed, non-violent resistance.
New demonstrations seem to be popping up each week with new villages joining the popular struggle against apartheid. ISM activists showed strong support for the popular demonstrations, new and old by joining Palestinians standing in roads, planting trees, and staring down lines of soldiers armed to the teeth. Below is an account of each action.
Soldiers, armed to the teeth, meet non-violent protesters in Beit Jala.
Demonstration against the Wall in Al Ma’sara, 12.03.2010
Palestinians build a wall near Jubbet Adh Dhib to prevent further land confiscation from an illegal settlement outpost.
Demonstration in Al-Ma’sara.
Israeli Occupation Force soldier daydreams about quitting time in Al-Ma’sara.
Looking down the barrel of a gun in Beit Jala where protesters sat down in front of a line of Occupation Forces.
Al-Ma’sara:
Friday 12 March 2010-A group of 50 Palestinians, Israelis and internationals challenged and trampled the barbed-wire blockade erected by Israeli Occupation Force soldiers as the weekly demonstration attempted to reach the future site of the Apartheid Wall which will confiscate 70% of the land from the Al-Ma’sara region. The drum-led demonstration marched through the streets of Al-Ma’sara chanting solidarity slogans, holding signs waving Palestinians flags. Internationals from America, Belgium and Scotland held solidarity signs with the slogans “Americans, Belgians and Scots against the occupation!”
At the IOF erected blockade, speeches, drumming and chanting continued as the barbed-wire was pulled back by demonstrators. This tugging allowed the crowd to pass under the wire, directly confronting the soldiers and getting a few steps closer to the village land. When the Closed Military Zone papers were produced and the an announcement over the loud speakers gave the demonstrators eight minutes to disperse before arrest, the nonviolent group sat down in protest on both sides of the barbed-wire.
After 15 minutes of sitting, the demonstration was called to a close by the Popular Committee and the group left chanting “Shame on you!” to the soldiers supporting the illegal occupation of Palestine.
Jubbet adh Dhib:
The sun was shining in full force as a small group of Palestinians, internationals and Israelis walked up a steep hill near the base of Mt. Herodan and towards the isolated Palestinian village of Jubbet adh Dhib. The residents of Jubbet adh Dhib are under constant threat and frequent attack from a cowboy settler outpost just a few hundred meters from their homes. Complete with horses, trucks and off-road vehicles, the settlers create an unsafe living environment for the residents and are a dangerous daily reminder of the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine.
In a gesture of support and solidarity, the group began a small act of resistance that would create a big statement. One by one, rocks were piled up on the village boarder creating the only barrier between the village and the Zionist cowboy settlers. This is the second time that the small wall, only half a meter tall, was erected. The wall built last weekend was totally destroyed by the settlers, creating fear in the residents and frustration for those carrying huge, heavy stones under the midday sun.
This wall, unlike the Israeli Apartheid Wall, must not fall. Jubbet adh Dhib residents need a physical barrier not just to protect themselves, but also their land from further confiscation by the settlements. Land confiscation and settler attacks are on the rise across the West Bank and the story of Jubbet adh Dhib is unfortunately not unique. So until the settlements are evacuated and Palestine gains its sovereignty, it is small acts such as these that both provide safety and a display of resistance.
Beit Ummar:
Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists sought to repeat last week’s successful demonstration in Beit Ummar, Hebron District by blocking Road 60 leading from Bethlehem to Hebron. On Friday morning, demonstrators made their way from the center of the village to Road 60 where they attempted to block traffic to protest the continued theft of land from Beit Ummar and surrounding villages for the purpose of settlement expansion. Within minutes they were met by Israeli forces throwing sound grenades and tear gas in attempt to disperse the peaceful protest.
Soldiers began using excessive physical force towards both activists and journalists, breaking several cameras. As the activists began to return to the village, the army followed them, continuing to fire tear gas canisters at demonstrators. Of those who remained near Road 60, four were arrested, including Beit Ummar’s National Committee coordinator, Yousef Abu Maria, two Israelis, and an AP journalist. They were released later in the day.
After last week’s demonstration, a curfew was threatened for all of Beit Ummar if protests continued. Later in the week, the same commander led a raid of the home of Palestine Solidarity Project’s coordinators, Mousa Abu Maria and Bekah Wolfe, along with raiding the offices of their newest project, The Center for Freedom and Justice, where office equipment, including a computer and printer, were taken.
Beit Jala:
The second weekly demonstration against the recent construction of the Apartheid Wall was held Sunday afternoon in the village of Beit Jala. A crowd of 50 gathered at the top of the road leading to the recently bulldozed and leveled playgrounds and olive groves below. The demonstration, led by village residents holding signs of nonviolence, anti-Occupation and peace marched 200 meters before being met by Israeli Occupation Force (IOF) soldiers.
Despite the nonviolent nature of the demonstrators, the IOF responded with heavy force, throwing dozens of sound bombs onto the narrow, heavily populated road. The crowd was quickly dispersed but reassembled with greater determination. Protesters sat on the road, inching the soldiers backwards with their songs, chants and dialogue. Village leaders gave tri-lingual speeches, telling the story of the land, the history of the occupation and their hopes for the future.
After nearly one hour, the Popular Committee called the demonstration to a close. IOF made the provocative choice to drive their vehicles through the crowd, drawing strong emotions and a few rocks. This gave the IOF reason to respond with more violence, shooting tear gas and more sound bombs at demonstrators and village residents.
The fight against the Apartheid Wall in Beit Jala continues with demonstrations and legal battles. Currently, the validity of the land confiscation permit is being challenged in the courts, delaying further construction for a few weeks more.
Soldiers who are supposed to be protecting villagers from settler attacks occupy a house in Iraq Burin.The Israeli military sent eight jeep loads of soldiers to Iraq Burin, near Nablus, on Saturday to prevent villagers from accessing their farmland. Violent settler attacks on previous Saturdays leave the villagers and their land threatened. The military’s solution to these attacks has not been to protect the Palestinians, but rather to deny them access to their land.
As the men of Iraq Burin sat peacefully at the edge of their village, watching soldiers and settlers on their terraces and in their olive groves on the opposite hillside, another group of soldiers approached from the hill immediately above the village.
Contested fields in Iraq Burin.With no apparent provocation or reason, soldiers fired volleys of tear gas and percussion grenades at the assembled villagers, then seized houses at the edge of the village to fire rubber bullets and more tear gas into the street. Despite this barrage of weaponry, villagers refused to run and hide, and the soldiers ultimately retreated at dusk.
Several Palestinians and one international were hit with rubber bullets and tear gas canisters, though no serious injuries were reported.
Members of three evicted families from three different generations speak to the crowd in Sheikh Jarrah.Thousands attended last Saturday’s demonstration in Sheikh Jarrah, demanding an end to the home evictions which have displaced hundreds of Palestinian residents. Gathering peacefully for speeches and live music in the park opposite the neighborhood, demonstrators chanted and sang before marching in the streets and attempting to pass the police barricades which obstructed demonstrators from reaching the neighborhood itself. Settlers held a small counter-demonstration in a nearby street.
Thousands demonstrate in Sheikh Jarrah to support evicted families.Following the demonstration, Palestinian and settler residents returned to the neighborhood. As the street filled with people, a group of several dozen riot police ran down the street towards the gathering crowd. After clearing the crowds to the sidewalk, police began grabbing the International activists who were standing peacefully on the sidewalk. In the minutes that followed, the activists were pushed to the ground, pulled by the hair and repeatedly wrestled out of the arms of those trying to free them from the chaos. Two Internationals were violently kicked in the head while on the ground, later suffering headaches, dizziness and disorientation. No provocation for this violent attack can be discerned.
